Politics

The government’s efforts to help school pupils catch up from lost learning during the COVID pandemic are “feeble” when compared to other countries, a former adviser has said. Sir Kevan Collins, who recently quit as Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s catch-up tsar amid a row over funding, told MPs on Tuesday that the “biggest impact” of

Ministers are set to decide on whether to scrap self-isolation for school pupils in England if one of their classmates tests positive for coronavirus. The government has recently trialled daily contact testing for children as an alternative to an entire school “bubble” – made up of their class or even whole year group – having

Boris Johnson has suggested he decided Matt Hancock could no longer be health secretary after admitting breaking coronavirus rules. Speaking on Monday, the prime minister said Mr Hancock’s actions undermined the government’s public safety message and therefore he chose to bring in a new health secretary on Saturday – a day after the revelations were

The justice secretary says he has asked for his office to be swept for “unauthorised devices” following the recording and leaking of footage of Matt Hancock from within the Department of Health and Social Care. Robert Buckland said he could not be sure whether there are cameras in his office or not, and that he

Newly appointed health secretary Sajid Javid has said his immediate priority is ending the coronavirus pandemic, as it was warned he faces a “baptism of fire”. Paying tribute to his predecessor Matt Hancock, who was forced to quit after being caught breaking social-distancing rules by kissing an aide, the cabinet minister said he knew the

So this is how it ends for Matt Hancock (for now). After months of leading the country through the pandemic and being caught in his own political crises along the way, the health secretary was brought down not by his failures but by his personal life. As soon as the bombshell photos of that embrace

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has resigned as health secretary after CCTV footage leaked of him kissing an aide in his departmental office, in breach of social distancing rules. Mr Hancock tendered his resignation in a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Here is the text of the letter, and the prime minister’s response, in full.

Matt Hancock has admitted breaking social distancing guidelines after pictures emerged of him kissing an aide. Questions about the health secretary hiring former lobbyist Gina Coladangelo surfaced after pictures in The Sun newspaper showed Mr Hancock, who is married, embracing the aide in his office. “I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in

The health secretary’s appointment of a close personal friend as an aide would have gone through an “incredibly rigorous” process, a minister has claimed. Questions about Matt Hancock’s appointment of former lobbyist Gina Coladangelo surfaced after pictures in The Sun newspaper appeared to show the health secretary, who is married, kissing the aide in his

Will Sir Keir Starmer face the biggest crisis of his leadership to date if he loses the by-election in the West Yorkshire constituency of Batley and Spen next week? Maybe. Will former Labour MP George Galloway, standing for the Workers Party, attract enough support from the constituency’s large Muslim community, previously loyal to Labour, to

Boris Johnson has indicated that a relaxation of travel rules for those who have had two doses of a coronavirus vaccine is on the horizon. The prime minister said there is a “real opportunity” to “open up travel through the double jab”. “We’ve got more than 60% of our population that have now had two

The UK’s vaccination rollout has saved more than 14,000 lives, and prevented 44,500 hospital admissions in England alone, including 2,500 in the past two weeks, according to vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi. Speaking at a Downing Street news briefing, he hailed the figures as “real progress” but warned “we know there is much more to do”.

Boris Johnson has apologised to victims and survivors of rape for the delays they have faced in securing justice. It came as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer warned the prime minister that rape convictions “have plummeted on his watch”. Sir Keir questioned why, at present, 98.4% of rape cases do not end up in any

The deadline for applications to the government’s EU Settlement Scheme will not be extended beyond the end of June, a minister has warned, as tens of thousands face having their benefits cut. Home Office minister Kevin Foster said postponing the cut-off point would create “uncertainty”, adding that all those who make an application before June

The health secretary has insisted the government will deliver a plan for the reform of social care this year, as he refused to be drawn on whether a key meeting on the issue between him, the prime minister and the chancellor has been postponed. Matt Hancock told Sky News he was “not going to get

MPs and peers have warned the government that a controversial Bill which places curbs on demonstrations will restrict peaceful protest in a way that is inconsistent with human rights. The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published a report raising concerns about the government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, namely that it would